We became homeless last year are there any way we can deduct the cost of homeless shelter on our taxes or any other tax deductions for homeless or qualify for anything

[jenandtony10]

Myself my wife and 3 children

[AnnetteB6]

There are not any tax deductions or credits that are specifically tied to being homeless.  As you go through your tax return TurboTax will ask you questions and be sure that you are getting any credits or deductions that you are qualified to receive.

[mesquitebean]

@jenandtony10  

You appear to be using the Live Self-Employed product--at least that is what is displayed underneath your question.   That is close to the most expensive product that TurboTax sells.  That edition is $200 for a Federal return and $55 for a state return.  And if you choose to pay the fees out of the Federal refund, there is an additional $40 service fee ($45 for California filers.)

Why are you in that very expensive edition?  Do you have a self-employed Schedule C business?   The Live portion is for help from a CPA/EA tax expert during return preparation and a review of the return by the CPA/EA prior to filing. 

TurboTax has 2 free products--regular Free Edition (limited to very simple returns) and the TurboTax IRS Free File Program.  I'll talk about both free products below.

The regular Free Edition is for very simple returns and not everyone can use it.  Certain forms are not available in Free Edition and require an upgrade to Deluxe or higher, such as one of Schedules 1-3, itemized deductions, education credits, student loan interest, retirement savers credit, Child and Dependent Care credit, etc.    It cannot handle a self-employed business.

For more info on regular Free Edition, see this FAQ:

FAQ:  Is Free Edition right for me?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/is-turbotax-free-edition-right-for-me/00/2...

Did you start in Free Edition and had to upgrade?  

FAQ:  Why do I have to upgrade from Free Edition?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/upgrading/help/why-do-i-have-to-upgrade-from-free-edition/00/26379

If you have a very simple return, don't need Schedules 1-3, and are sure you don't otherwise need one of the paid editions, here's how to start over and choose regular Free Edition:

FAQ:  How do I clear and start over in Online TurboTax?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-clear-and-start-over-in-turbotax-onli...

The other free product (TurboTax IRS Free File Program)  is fully-featured and can prepare all the usual forms and schedules, including a Schedule C for a self-employed business.    In addition to Schedules 1-3 it can prepare Schedule C, D, E, F, etc., and enter K-1. But one has to meet one of the qualifications to use.  See below:

To qualify for free 2020 federal and state tax returns through the IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax, you just need to meet one of these requirements:

• Your 2020 AGI is $39,000 or less (if filing jointly MFJ, this figure is for the AGI of both spouses combined.)  ; or
• You qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); or
• In 2020, you served as active duty military (including Reservists and National Guard) with a maximum AGI of $72,000, and you have a military-issued W-2.

If you meet one of those qualifications and want to use it, it is at this special website

https://freefile.intuit.com/

but see these 2 FAQs first, including how to switch without starting over:

FAQ:  What is the TurboTax IRS Free File Program?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/what-is-the-turbotax-free-file-program/01/...

and

FAQ:  How do I switch to the TurboTax IRS Free File Program? 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program/00/...

There are also other free file options that may have different requirements at the IRS website:
https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

[mesquitebean]

TurboTax has 2 free products--regular Free Edition (limited to very simple returns) and the TurboTax IRS Free File Program.  I'll talk about both free products below.

The regular Free Edition is for very simple returns and not everyone can use it.  Certain forms are not available in Free Edition and require an upgrade to Deluxe or higher, such as one of Schedules 1-3, itemized deductions, education credits, student loan interest, retirement savers credit, Child and Dependent Care credit, etc.    It cannot handle a self-employed business.

For more info on regular Free Edition, see this FAQ:

FAQ:  Is Free Edition right for me?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/is-turbotax-free-edition-right-for-me/00/2...

Did you start in Free Edition and had to upgrade?  

FAQ:  Why do I have to upgrade from Free Edition?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/upgrading/help/why-do-i-have-to-upgrade-from-free-edition/00/26379

If you have a very simple return, don't need Schedules 1-3, and are sure you don't otherwise need one of the paid editions, here's how to start over and choose regular Free Edition:

FAQ:  How do I clear and start over in Online TurboTax?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-clear-and-start-over-in-turbotax-onli...

The other free product (TurboTax IRS Free File Program)  is fully-featured and can prepare all the usual forms and schedules, including a Schedule C for a self-employed business.    In addition to Schedules 1-3 it can prepare Schedule C, D, E, F, etc., and enter K-1. But one has to meet one of the qualifications to use.  See below:

To qualify for free 2020 federal and state tax returns through the IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax, you just need to meet one of these requirements:

• Your 2020 AGI is $39,000 or less (if filing jointly MFJ, this figure is for the AGI of both spouses combined.)  ; or
• You qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); or
• In 2020, you served as active duty military (including Reservists and National Guard) with a maximum AGI of $72,000, and you have a military-issued W-2.

If you meet one of those qualifications and want to use it, it is at this special website

https://freefile.intuit.com/

but see these 2 FAQs first, including how to switch without starting over:

FAQ:  What is the TurboTax IRS Free File Program?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/what-is-the-turbotax-free-file-program/01/...

and

FAQ:  How do I switch to the TurboTax IRS Free File Program? 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program/00/...

There are also other free file options that may have different requirements at the IRS website:
https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

[mesquitebean]

TurboTax has 2 free products--regular Free Edition (limited to very simple returns) and the TurboTax IRS Free File Program.  I'll talk about both free products below.

The regular Free Edition is for very simple returns and not everyone can use it.  Certain forms are not available in Free Edition and require an upgrade to Deluxe or higher, such as one of Schedules 1-3, itemized deductions, education credits, student loan interest, retirement savers credit, Child and Dependent Care credit, etc.    It cannot handle a self-employed business.

For more info on regular Free Edition, see this FAQ:

FAQ:  Is Free Edition right for me?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/is-turbotax-free-edition-right-for-me/00/2...

Did you start in Free Edition and had to upgrade?  

FAQ:  Why do I have to upgrade from Free Edition?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/upgrading/help/why-do-i-have-to-upgrade-from-free-edition/00/26379

If you have a very simple return, don't need Schedules 1-3, and are sure you don't otherwise need one of the paid editions, here's how to start over and choose regular Free Edition:

FAQ:  How do I clear and start over in Online TurboTax?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-clear-and-start-over-in-turbotax-onli...

The other free product (TurboTax IRS Free File Program)  is fully-featured and can prepare all the usual forms and schedules, including a Schedule C for a self-employed business.    In addition to Schedules 1-3 it can prepare Schedule C, D, E, F, etc., and enter K-1. But one has to meet one of the qualifications to use.  See below:

To qualify for free 2020 federal and state tax returns through the IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax, you just need to meet one of these requirements:

• Your 2020 AGI is $39,000 or less (if filing jointly MFJ, this figure is for the AGI of both spouses combined.)  ; or
• You qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); or
• In 2020, you served as active duty military (including Reservists and National Guard) with a maximum AGI of $72,000, and you have a military-issued W-2.

If you meet one of those qualifications and want to use it, it is at this special website

https://freefile.intuit.com/

but see these 2 FAQs first, including how to switch without starting over:

FAQ:  What is the TurboTax IRS Free File Program?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/what-is-the-turbotax-free-file-program/01/...

and

FAQ:  How do I switch to the TurboTax IRS Free File Program? 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program/00/...

There are also other free file options that may have different requirements at the IRS website:
https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free